Even after cancer diagnosis, 1 in 10 survivors continues to smoke

the ONA take:

A new study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention found that nearly 1 in 10 cancer survivors continued smoking despite their cancer diagnosis. Researchers identified 2,938 patients with cancer, including those with lung, breast, prostate, bladder, colorectal, kidney, ovarian, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, melanoma, and uterine, and 9.3% currently smoke cigarettes. Of those, 17.2% had bladder cancer or 14.9% had lung cancer, both heavily associated with smoking. Of cancer survivors who continued to smoke, 88.6% had quit smoking prior to their diagnosis. In addition, 44.6% of current cigarette smokers said they planned to quit, while 10.1% did not, and 43.3% were unsure.

The researchers also observed various sociodemographic factors that were associated with the likelihood of smoking. Patients that were female, younger, less-educated, had a lower income, and drank alcohol were more likely to smoke. Older married patients were more likely to smoke more. The researchers suggest that older patients were less willing to quit because they did not believe the benefits would be worthwhile.

Smoking cigarettes is associated with an increased risk of the incidence and recurrence of certain cancers, as well as a decrease in cancer therapy efficacy and survival time.

Even after cancer diagnosis, 1 in 10 survivors continues to smoke

Nearly one in 10 cancer survivors reports smoking years after their diagnosis, according to a new study from the American Cancer Society. Researchers analyzed data from 2,938 patients nine years after their diagnosis, and 9.3 percent were current smokers (within the past 30 days). Of those patients, 83 percent smoked every day, averaging 14.7 cigarettes per day.